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Tips to Keep Kids Healthy During the School Year
It may still be summer but for many children around the country it is just a week away until the new academic year begins. The first few weeks of school are also the greatest time for illness because of the number of children found together in one small area.
Practicing good hygiene should be a way of life that begins in the home. During the summer is an excellent time to teach children about the benefits of good hygiene.
A child will learn best if he is shown the skill and then demonstrate the skill attained. In addition, if a child is expected and encouraged to practice these skills daily, then by the time he returns to school the skill will become part of his daily routine.
Illnesses Spread by Poor Hygiene
The spread of disease commonly occurs from direct person-to-person contact and from exposure to airborne droplets from a sneeze or cough.
Studies by the Centers of Disease Control in Atlanta (CDC) have concluded that failing to hand wash frequently and properly is the number one cause of the spread of disease.
Although there are no cures for viral infections, they can greatly be reduced if everyone practiced good hygiene.
Illnesses spread by poor hygiene practices are:
- Swine Flu H1N1
- Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
- Rhinovirus
- Norovirus
- Hepatitis
Prevention - Hand washing
The first line of defense in preventing the spread of germ-causing illnesses is hand washing.
The CDC states that handwashing can reduce the incidence illness by an amazing 50%. Always wash your hands:
- After toileting
- Before touching food
- After sneezing or coughing into the hands
- After using a tissue to blow the nose
Hand washing is the best way to reduce the incidence of spreading disease. Additionally, a number of other practices could reduce the spread of germs:
- Avoid sharing food or eating utensils.
- Wash hands often and properly, especially after toileting and blowing the nose.
- Cover the mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
- If a tissue is not available, cough or sneeze into your shoulder. Avoiding the hands reduces the chance of spreading the germs.
- Clean all surfaces with bleach (1 part bleach to 10 parts water).
- Keep sick children home, off public transportation, and contact medical doctor.
Talk About it - Model it
At school, teachers should be responsible for the practice of good hygiene skills.
Children learn by both instruction and modeling behavior. If a child is instructed to behave a certain way but observes the teacher contradicting that behavior then the child is less likely to conform to the expected behavior.
Children Live What They See
Children love to mimic and play games; if the health instruction activities involve a hands-on approach the child is more likely going to be interested in participation.
In conclusion, the most important thing to do to keep the spread of illness at bay is to practice good hygiene skills. Help children to practice good hygiene by talking about it, modeling it, and practicing it.
This will not only reduce the incidence of contracting an illness at school, but also pave the road for a healthier life.
Washing Away Germs
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